Comments on: Not the best of 2008

By: M.R. in L.A.

M.R. in L.A. — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:08:24 +0000

I'm a fan of Aniston and have been since seeing her in the underwatched Fox sketch comedy show The Edge. She's why I decided to check-out that new show Friends.
That said, her resume's not exactly full of award-bait if you will. She's won a few – most notable are an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Friends – but she doesn't even have an Oscar nomination. For the full list look here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000098/awards
As for the best of the year, I used to see at least 50 movies a year but now I have a kid so I saw 9 2008 releases in the theater this year. Best drama I saw was The Duchess, best comedy was Forgetting Sarah Marshall and best action was Iron Man (and yes – I did see Dark Knight).
I like awards season – I usually make room to see things and a few screeners usually come my way. I'm interested in Doubt – it was brilliant on stage and if anyone has even a chance of topping Cherry Jones' Tony-winning performance it's Meryl. I'm curious of Slumdog. I love everything Kate Winslet does so want to see both of her films despite so-so reviews. Milk sounds great.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:27:57 +0000

No matter the opinion you have on Jennifer Aniston, think about this: she's been the most widely talked about element on this page. You're now all thinking about her and many of you probably googled her. That's just good marketing. Way to contribute to someone half of you think is a waste of screen time.

By: Laura in NC

Laura in NC — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:08:34 +0000

I know we are supposed to be on a different topic, but in Jennifer Anistan's defense, she did portray a rather different (and evil) roll in Derailed. I happened to catch it one day on HBO. I don't think it made it to many theaters (if any) but she was very good in that and it wasn't a "Rachel" roll at all (though very few parts you may have caught a hint of it). But on the other hand, she mostly does the girl next door "Rachel" thing in her movies and it does get old. She is in no way to be compared with any of the women listed. She needs a few more good rolls under her belt for that. But you can't really blame her for being typecasted either – look at her "Friends" (especially Matthew Perry!). Though David Schwimmer fell victim to it, until both of them pretty much fell out of the limelight. I think Courtney Cox may be the only one who escaped unscathed...
As far as the Dark Knight – I think it was fantastic! It had tons of plot twists. You forgot that Heath was the Joker. I agree that Christian Bale was good but I hated that gravelly voice he used as Batman. I love Maggie Gyllenhal but I think she was not right for this part – something didn't fit right. I think overall, the acting and the storyline itself was actually really good. I believe that it was a bit overshadowed and overpumped by Heath's death, very similar to "The Crow" when Brendan Lee died and that took the headlines before the movie came out. It didn't take away from the fact that the parts he did play were really good!

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:56:49 +0000

Gran Torino is great. Too bad it hasn't hit theaters yet, because everyone who sees it will love it. The movie is not what you expect from seeing the trailers, it is a very emotional film. Every character does a great job.

By: Shane McGuire

Shane McGuire — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:44:51 +0000

I decided to leave another posting here in this area. I wanted the opportunity to give you some of the best movies of 2008. As some of the other folks here mentioned Wall-E. Yes I can say that film was a definate watch this summer along with Kung-Foo Panda. Jack Black was completely the Panda in the film, and Kudos to all of the other folks that made that film what it was, (very entertaining).

We just watched Valkryie. This was truely an excellent film. No the actors did not have to have German Accents in order to make the film believeable. Keep in mind when you see this film it is based on true events with assaination attempts during Hilter's Reign, (Operation Valkryie), being the most famous of the attempts on his life.

Wanted was an interesting film, with a very Bond Esque feel to it with a nice Matrix cross into the plot. It was definately a "Theater Movie" as the special effects loose their luster on DVD. But a definately plauseable story line with the exception of being able to "Curve Bullets". Uh, yeah right! But hey its Hollywood, and its what they do best.

As for Quantum of Solice, very nice continuance to Casino Royal. Its is definately going to be a popular DVD, and the car chase scenes are very nice. I can only compare them to the Robert DeNero film Ronin a few years back, which were nothing short of great.

Checked out Death Race with Jason Statham. this rated right up there with the carnage in Doomsday. Like Doomsday, not a film that had a deep plot, or really good lines, but the special effects and sheer on screen carnage was worth a one time pass.

Transporter 3, well what more can we say about Jason Statham. Its definately another good one time through, and a definate improvement over the Transporter 2 film, which really did nothing for myself or my wife.

Ahh, and the hit of the year, that I have heard no end of discussion. Batman! Heath Ledger posted a part in this film that can only be described as sinister. This is the true form of Joker. Jack Nicholson's rendition should be proud to have finally seen a joker that was worthy of Batman's attention. A true foe to be feared and reveared.

Christian Bale, carried his role as Batman quite well, though I could have done without the sawdust in his voice. but he make a quite compelling character in this film. The question is now, who can he face in the next movie to make an equal film.

So now I have to include the Prince Caspian film for this summer. Well, when you as a child were brought up on the Cronicles of Narnia, and you are left with a warmed over Disney Production that leaves something to be desired, it makes the film not even worth the placement in a personal DVD collection. But admitedly, this film also had a hard time keeping up. When you are compaired to the Harry Potter Series, and Lord of the Rings, you are placed in a spot where you are running to keep up. I guess my real disaappointment was the fact that Walt Disney Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer did such an excellent job with Pirates of the Caribbean, I was expecting Disney Studios to step up to their own benchmark with the second installment of the Cronicles of Narnia.

At this point if there is a third film in their thought, I'd suggest selling the license to New Line Cinema and let the directors of the Lord of the Rings series take a stab at a real Cronicles of Narnia.

In closing this commentary out, I see the commentary of the John Adams HBO Miniseries was mentioned. For those of you who might like a tour of our US History, and a very accurate recount of the life of John Adams, I would suggest that you have a look at this Miniseries. Like the Band of Brother's Series produced by Tom Hanks after Saving Private Ryan, the John Adams miniseries is a guranteed classic. This miniseries is as patriotic as it can get. The Mel Gibson film The Patriot, holds no candle to this Miniseries. It is nothing less than awsome, and Paul Giamatti is nothing short of stellar in his role as John Adams! It will literally by 7.5 hours of not moving your booty off the couch because you cannot quit once you start this series.

The problems with the construction of our Constitution are as real as you being a member of the Founding Fathers who designed it. John Adams is an in your face reality of the issues past and present that created our country and our values that make it continue to function.

And in the words of our famous movie critics, I hope to see you in the dark!

By: Teneal

Teneal — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:05:39 +0000

My husband and I recently rented and watched the "John Adams" miniseries. We were transfixed the entire 7 hours. It prompted us to read more about the early presidents and the time period in which they lived. It was fascinating and very well done.

By: Danilo

Danilo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:07:34 +0000

Top 3 movies 2008:

No Country for Old Men
Valkyrie
Gran Torino

3 movies avoided like the plague this year:

Twilight
Australia
High School Musical

Top 3 TV Shows 2008:

The History Channel "Dog Fights"
The History Channel "Hero Ships"
Discovery Channel "Deadliest Catch"

3 worst TV shows 2008:

Brothers and Sisters
Nip Tuck
All the CSI shows

Books I finished reading in 2008:

Yamamoto by Edwin P. Hoyt
Firewall by Andy McNabb

12 random samples of artists -song/song(s) in my iPod:

Hootie and the Blowfish – Cant find the time to tell you
One Republic – Appoligize/Say/Stop and Stare
Prefab Sprout – The Sound of Crying
David Archuleta – Crush
Blue Nile – Lets go out tonight
Daniel Bedingford – If your not the one
Layla Kaylif -Shakespear in love
Level 42 – Silence/Something About You
The Used – The Taste of Ink
Linkin Park – In the End
Feeder – Morning Life
The Style Council – The Paris Match

Top 3 News events 2008

Israeli-Palestinian 2008 skirmishes and politics
Global Economic Crisis
US Presidential Elections 08

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:59:37 +0000

Best CD hands down is Cyndi Lauper Bring ya to the brink. Nice attempts by Madonna and Donna Summer, but Cyndi definatly had the best CD.

By: Dan McLaughlin

Dan McLaughlin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:46:21 +0000

"Wall-E" was one of the biggest surprises for me. It was an amazingly well done film, full of heart.
David Sedaris' "When You are Engulfed in Flame" is probably the best book that I read from last year. I have to be careful where I read it because I'm apt to just burst out with laughter without notice.
It's amazing that someone in the music business for 25+ years can be so consistent in delivering quality material. Madonna's "Hard Candy" was just more proof that she's not going to slow down or coast on her laurels.

By: Shane McGuire

Shane McGuire — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:01:18 +0000

My wife and I watcheed many movies on 2008, but the one that was really quite bad for this year was Austrailia. In our opinion this seemed to be an attempted cross of the classic Quigley Down Under and Pearl Harbor. The film was too slow, in too many places. Though Hugh Jackman's portrayal of the given chracter was outstanding, the film as a total was a near "Walk Out" for my wife and I.

When you go to the trouble to advertize Japanese Zero Fighters on your movie posters, and claim that this is going to be a WWII film, that is exactly what it had better be. Not the Austrailian version of "Out of Africa". This film was an attempted cross of so many other movies that I cannot even begin to count them.

There were other aspects of this film that drew from "Open Range" and a few other classic westerns. But for all of the beauty on Austrailia, its our opinion this film just did not deliver what its trailers claimed. Disappointing really, because the film could have been so much more than it was.

The other film that was just an "OK" film for this year was "Four Christmases" The concept ot the film was great, as my wife and I both can relate to many of the issues addressed in this film. But once again the film lacked real punch. This almose seemed like an attempt to remake National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, which is truely a holiday classic that all too many families can relate to when it comes to the rushed round robin of visits that many of today's families are subjected to. Not that I want to sound like a Scrooge or a Grinch, but the fact is that many of us in the work force can relate to the issues addressed in "Four Christmases." Reese Witherspoon's role was excellent as usual playing a snobby self centered professional, her counterpart, needed to be a little less of a dork, and more of a real person.

Another, film that was in the not so greats, was the Indiana Jones and the Legend of the Crystal Skull. For starters, I want to make a major correction in the film detail. Gun Powder is NOT magnetic, and has no magnetic properties. Neither does lead shot from shot-gun shells, bullets or any other non-ferrous metallic objects. Nice try, but no cigar! Since when does Indiana Jones go hunting for Ailens? I beleive that is a role reserved for Sigourney Weaver. The CGI was very hokey and the giant Fire Ants looked like something out of Clash of the Titans, nearly 25 years ago when Stop Animation, was state of the art. Though, Harrison Ford delivered his usual outstanding Indiana Jones/Han Solo performance, the story lack origionality and a quality plot. Basically, what I witnessed was a rushed attempt from Lucasfilm and Industrial Light and Magic that was better reserved for DVD.

For all of the hype for a film released this summer, it was a let down in too many departments. Personally, I would have been more pleased with a two hour Mythbusters Special, or even a Dirty Job's Marathon.

Though I am not a professional movie critic, I consider these comments pretty fair and balanced.